Road signal



y 1931- c. H. FOWLER 1,813,890

ROAD SIGNAL Filed April 16, 1930 tutor/Imp Patented July 7, 1931 CHARLES H. FOWLER, OE EUGENE, OREGON .ROAD SIGNAL Application filed April 16 This invention has for its primary object the provision of means to warn the driver of an automobile, mechanically propelled, or other driven vehicle, when approaching a .6 point of danger in the road, as a boulevard, railway crossing or other place which should be-approached with caution.

The invention contemplates means applied to the surface of a road a determinate distance from the point of danger to impart a bump, shock or jolt to the vehicle and serve as a warning of impending danger, so that the driver may proceed with caution and thereby avoid an accident.

While the drawings illustrate a'preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may beresorted to within the scope of the invention as ;claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof-a For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to .be to the following description and the drawings hereto attached," in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a crossing illustrative of an embodiment of the invention.-

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing two strips or bars applied to a street orroadway.-

Figure 3 is an e'nlargeddetail view of-one end portion of a single strip or bar.

Figure 4 isa view similar to Figure 1, of a modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawingsby like reference characters. a I t The numeral 1 designates a boulevard or other thoroughfare which is intersected by a road or street 2, the intersection 3 representing a point of danger which should be approached'with caution by the driver ofa vehicle. Some distance from the intersection or crossing 3, say for instance, about fifty to sixty feet, more or less, is located a strip or bar to impart one or more jolts to 9. ve-

hicle approaching the crossing 3 on the road 1930. semi- No. 444,787. Y

or street 2. This strip or bar may be single, as indlcated at 4, or double, as designated at 5, whereby to impart two impulses or jolts to thevehicle in rapid succession. Obviously, more than one bar or strip may be employed and located any desired distance apart to'impart any clesired number of impulses or jolts to the VGhIOlBtO awaken the driver to impending danger. The bars or strips may be solid or hollow and, preferably, consist of metal, the. upper surface being curved to prevent injury to pneumatic or other soft tread tires.

The upper surface of the bars or strips is roughened or studded with projections to prevent side slip or skidding of a vehicle thereon. The bar or strip is placed upon the surface of the road or street 2 and its position is fixed, preferably by means ofpegs 6, or like fastenings, driven into the bed of the street or roadway and passing through openings formed in the strip or bar.

In the preferred construction, the bar or strip consists of metal, as iron or steel, and may be solid. The members may be located at any distance from the crossing 3 or point of danger and may extend entirely across the road or street 2, or part way thereof, as may be found necessary, to meet requirements and assure safety.

A driver approaching a point of danger along a road equipped with the invention, experiences a jolt when the wheels of the vehicle encounter and pass over the bar or strip and is warned of impending danger so that the advance may be cautious. The number 85. v

of impulses or jolts experienced will depend upon the number of bars or strips employed and the'distance of said bars or strips from' the crossing or point of danger will determine the relative time of warning, as will be readily appreciated.

What is claimed. is: Aroad signal-including a bar applied to the surface of a thoroughfare some distance from a point of danger and having its upper surface formed with rounded side portions merging intoside faces of the bar, the upper face being provided with ribs to prevent a vehicle from skidding extending the full width of the bar and ha ing their ends extending 106 downwardly and merging into the side faces of the bar, and fastening means passing through the bar between certain of the ribs and into the bed of the thoroughfare to secure the bar thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES H. FOWLER. [LS-1 

